Reviewer:
Jilly9 -
-
January 9, 2012
Subject:
April & May 1966 in Vietnam
DAK TO - on April 17, 1966 a battery of howitzers fire in support of the 25th Infantry Division and Operation Longfellow.
VUNG TAU - From April 29, 1966 through May 1, 1966 4,000 more personnel of the 25th Infantry Division arrived in Vietnam at the port of Vung Tau. LCTs carry them ashore, where the Division Band plays for them. This completes Phase I of Operation Moonlight. Phase II is a troop movement to Cu Chi.
TAN SON NHUT BIEN HOA - Camp Alpha at Tan Son Nhut is where troops from the 173d Airborne Brigade arrive and depart. Replacements board a bus for the drive to Bien Hoa. Once at Camp, they are processed & driven to their units. At the same time, other men are being rotated back to the CONUS; Camp Alpha is their gateway to home.
NHA TRANG - Camp McDermott is the HQ for Field Force One; it opened on February 13, 1966. A large construction project is underway as the facility expands. There is an MP company at the base and they protect the base as well as handle traffic issues, such as speeding tickets. Shots of "downtown" Nha Trang, with many bars catering to soldiers.
AN KHE - Camp Radcliffe is the home of the 1st Air Cavalry Division and on May 1, 1966 there was a changing of the colors. General Harry William Osborne Kinnard is the outgoing commander and General John Norton is the new. General Norton troops the line and helicopters fly over in formation.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - There are 7,000+ troops in the Dominican Republic and every 2 weeks a freighter from Louisiana arrives with supplies for them. Cartons of eggs are off-loaded onto refrigerated trucks. All the supplies are taken to the Fairgrounds Depot (home of the 627th Supply and Service Battalion). An Army Veterinarian inspects each shipment of eggs/perishables. The Supply & Service battalion also bakes bread. Also here, the 649th Supply & Service Company operate a 7,0000 customer laundry. The 67th Maintenance Support Company performs roadside inspections of vehicles. The Maintenance Support Company repairs vehicles. Some repaired Jeeps will be donated to the Dominican National Police.
WEST BERLIN, GERMANY - Allied Forces Day celebrations were held on May 14, 1966 in West Berlin. There is a parade with French, British, West German, and American troops.
BANGKOK, THAILAND - The Thailand Armed Forces Research Agency has developed a field ration. Shots of workers filling ration packets. There is a quality control lab and Thai soldiers sample the food.
NORTH CAROLINA - DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - The Fayetteville Observer is the hometown newspaper for thousands of troops serving in the Dominican Republic. Shots of Main Street in Fayetteville NC and Observer workers. The Army sends 1,000 copies of the newspaper nightly via Pope Air Force Base and a military courier jet. The jet lands in the Dominican Republic. The papers are off-loaded and delivered to Camp Randall and places in Santo Domingo. It is a big morale booster.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - On May 6, 1966 there was a celebration of the 1st Anniversary of the Inter-American Peace Force (IAPF). There were sports events held. Paraguay blanked the Yanks 11-0 in soccer. The USA wins baseball against the Nicaraguans 20-0. Other games are played and trophies awarded.
TRIESTE, ITALY - a boxing match was held by Conseil International du Sport Militaire (CISM). On May 10, 1966 flyweight matches were held and there is footage of various boxing matches - including Navy champion (and future Olympic Coach) Dick Pettigrew.